Dear friends, tertians, and supporters of Carmel,
I am reaching out to you with a request for help for the Carmelite brothers who live and work in Ukraine, especially those whom they serve. Today I received a letter from the provincial of the Polish province, informing about the current situation. Here is the full text of the letter:
Dear brothers,
today (March 1) we received troubling news that a military unit was bombed 10 km from our monastery in Sąsiadowice.
Russia was dropping rockets using a drone. The explosion was heard in our monastery as well. Our brothers (Carmelites of the Polish province) have refused to return to Poland and remain in Ukraine with the people they serve, even though they are aware of the danger they face. So far, everyone is safe.
It is frightening that in the 21st century such things are happening in Europe. The worst part is the helplessness. We pray for the end of the war to our Carmelite Mother.
Our Polish monasteries in Krakow, Wola Gułowska, Gdańsk, and Chyżna are ready to accept Ukrainian refugees waiting at the borders. In this matter, we are cooperating with the Polish government.
We are grateful for your participation and desire to help our brothers in Ukraine and all those they serve. You can help them in two ways:
1. Financially
by transferring to one of the following accounts of the Polish province:
Bank: BNP Paribas Bank Polski
Address: ul. Armii Krajowej 28, 31-150 Kraków
Account name: CARITAS CARMELITANA
Message for the recipient: HELP FOR UKRAINE
- For Polish currency PLN: IBAN PL63160010131841116240000001; SWIFT/BIC PPABPLPKXXX
- for EURO: IBAN PL36160010131841116240000002; SWIFT/BIC PPABPLPKXXX
- for USD (US dollar): IBAN PL68124014311787001000949706; SWIFT/BIC PKOPPLPW
2. Materially
The most urgent items needed are:
- bandages, dressings, first aid kits
- basic pain medications, fever/cold tablets
- soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, diapers, detergents, and cleaning supplies.
Additionally:
- blankets, sleeping bags
- thermoses
- bottled water, juices
- any non-perishable food items
You can send all donations directly to the Krakow monastery at the address:
Klasztor Karmelitów
ul. Karmelicka 19
31-131 Kraków
Poland
Your donations will be sent to the Carmelite monasteries in Ukraine using transport provided by Caritas Poland.
Thank you in advance for your spiritual, financial, and material support.
Yours in Carmel,
Wieslaw
If anyone wishes to contribute through our Czech koruna account, please send your donation to the account of the Czechoslovak General Delegation of the Carmelite Order at Česká spořitelna number: 601 891 339 / 0800 with the variable symbol 380. In the message for the recipient please state UKRAINE.
At the same time, I would like to invite you to pray together for the end of the war, which we practice in our communities every evening at 8 o'clock. The form (silent prayer, rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy…) is left to you and your possibilities.
In prayer and with blessings
Fr. Norbert Žuška, O.Carm.
